Contact: Jenni Brockman
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local Student-Athletes Earn SMS Sports Honors
Tappahannock, VA (February 23, 2001) - Five girls from the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula have earned recognition for their athletic accomplishments at St. Margaret's School. They were among 14 student-athletes who received awards at the recent SMS winter sports banquet.
St. Margaret's School senior Carol Combs accepts her league all-star certificate from Head Soccer Coach Rodney Watkins and Athletic Director Sue Saunders. Combs, who previously has earned all-star honors in soccer, field hockey and lacrosse, was one of 14 student-athletes recognized at the school's winter sports banquet.
"Our winter season athletes contended with injuries and illnesses," said Athletic Director Sue Saunders. "But they and their coaches rose above it with St. Margaret's determination and a 'never give up' attitude to post records of which we all can be proud."
One student-athlete, boarding student Carol Combs, won a spot on the League of Independent Schools all-star soccer team. Combs, a five-year varsity player, finished the season with a team-high 8 goals. She will attend Wake Forest University next year. According to Head Coach Rodney Watkins, she is capable of playing soccer on the college level.
In addition, each of the SMS teams and coaches conferred awards. The varsity basketball team chose senior co-captain Sara Newman of White Stone as most valuable player and sophomore Lindsay Neist of Tappahannock as most improved player.
Members of the varsity soccer team chose freshman Sarah Weakley of Montross as most improved player. Head Coach Watkins recognized senior co-captain Britton Faulkner of White Stone for four years of varsity play.Junior Varsity Basketball Coach David Cook recognized Margaret Moncure of Tappahannock as the team's high scorer.
Boarding students who earned sports recognition include freshman Graham Barlow of Winchester, coach's award for JV basketball; junior Kristina Bethea of Randallstown, MD, coach's award for varsity basketball; sophomore Alex Burdette of Fairfax Station, most valuable JV soccer player; eighth-grader Amy Dunsire of Elizabethtown, KY, most improved JV soccer player; senior Elizabeth LeBlanc of Dallas, most valuable varsity soccer player; sophomore Fola Ogundiran of Hyattsville, MD, high scorer (150 points) in varsity basketball; eighth-grader Paola Peralta of Mexico City, Mexico, most improved JV basketball player; and freshman Jennifer Stuart of Stuart's Draft, most valuable JV basketball player.
St. Margaret's will field spring sports teams in crew, lacrosse, softball and tennis. The crew team, coached by Kary Fronk and Andrea Robinson, makes its 2001 debut in the Broadbay Classic Regatta on March 31. Essex resident and Head Coach Katie Speigler and the tennis Scotties meet St. Catherine's at home on March 29. The Scotty lacrosse squad, coached by Essex resident Cupper Dickinson, plays its first match at home on March 30 against Virginia Episcopal. Varsity softball, under the leadership of Head Coach and Athletic Director Sue Saunders, assisted by Essex resident Temple Davis, begins play at the Lancaster Invitational Softball Tournament on March 24.
